BBC Breakfast was presented by Dan Walker and Louise Minchin today and the show was discussing the hot topic of Boris Johnson MP being absent from last nights Conservative leadership race debate which was aired on television screens across the nation.
Joining Walker on a live video link this morning was the Brexit minister James Cleverly, a supporter of Johnson and it wasn’t long before Walker suggested the real reason for the current favourite not making an appearance alongside the other leadership candidates was because he was too “embarrassed” by his record.
“One of the other questions, which I would love to ask Boris Johnson and I’m sure many interviewers would like to do it if he came forward as an interviewee, is to look at his record,” Walker began explaining.
“And you see one of the reasons Mr Cleverly, I’m sure you’re aware of this, people think that he’s not taking part in these interviews and these debates because he’s worried about the awkward questions and he’s worried about embarrassing himself when you ask about his record about being sacked not once, but twice for lying.
“Once as a journalist for making up a quote and once as a Tory spokesman after misleading his party leader Michael Howard about an extra marital affair.
“This – and politics is very much about trust and scrutiny, isn’t it – how can we trust somebody who we aren’t able to scrutinise and ask about those things that he’s done in the past, this man who wants to be Prime Minister!”
Responding to these claims, Cleverly said: “I have absolutely no doubt that when it comes to the second stage of this competition, Boris will spend a lot of time talking about his record.
“Because his record as Mayor of London saw the homicide rate in London cut by half, trains delays or tube delays -“ However, he was cut off by Walker counter arguing; “But his record also saw £50million spent on a bridge that was never built?”
“Hang on,” Cleverly stated before continuing: “Tube delays cut by a third, saw the London economy recover under his watch from a historic downturn, successful delivery of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games. His record as Mayor is one that we collectively as Conservatives in London at the time, can be incredibly proud of.
“I have no doubt at all, he will be talking an awful lot about his record in executive office, actually running stuff.” He concluded.
As for why Johnson was a no-show last night and this morning for follow-up interviews, Cleverly defended him and said: “I imagine he is doing what he has successfully been doing up until this point; gaining support of Members of Parliament because those are the voters in the first stage of selection!
“Then what he’s also been doing, is speaking to the Conservative members, because they are the next voters in this election.”
As for how the TV debate played out last night, five out of the six contenders appeared on Channel 4, Michael Gove, Jeremy Hunt, Sajid Javid, Dominic Raab and Rory Stewart answered questions on issues such as Brexit and public policy in front of a studio audience.
The second ballot will take place tomorrow and will see Conservative MPs vote for their favourite candidates. Each one needs at least 33 votes to proceed to the next round.
diIf all candidates receive at least 33 votes, the person will the fewest will be eliminated.
Prime Minister Theresa May stepped down as leader of the Tory party back in May.
BBC Breakfast airs everyday at 6am on BBC One.
